Refrigerator

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator comprises: a case having a cooling chamber; a machine room disposed on one side of the case, and configured to accommodate a compressor therein; a condenser disposed on an outer surface of the case; and a heat emission unit configured to guide external air of the case for heat emission of the compressor and the condenser. In the refrigerator, heat emission of the machine room and the condenser is sufficiently performed, and a compact configuration of the machine room is implemented.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly,to a refrigerator having a condenser at an outer side of a machine roomin which a compressor is installed.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, a refrigerator serves to store food and drink in a lowtemperature state by providing a cooling chamber. The cooling chamber ofthe refrigerator may be divided into a freezing chamber maintained in atemperature below zero, and a refrigerating chamber maintained in atemperature above zero.

The refrigerator can freshly store food in a frozen state or in a cooledstate by lowering each temperature of the freezing chamber and therefrigerating chamber, by transmitting cool air to the freezing chamberand the refrigerating chamber. Here, the cool air is generated by arefrigeration cycle constituted by a compressor, a condenser, anexpansion valve, and an evaporator.

For installation of the refrigeration cycle, a machine room is installedin a rear bottom portion of the refrigerator. A fan, a compressor, acondenser, and so on constituting the refrigeration cycle are installedat the machine room.

A great deal of heat occurs from the compressor, the condenser, and soon of the machine room, and the occurred heat has to be dissipatedoutside. For dissipation of heat, a plurality of vents through whichexternal air flows are formed at a cover for protecting the machineroom. And, a blowing fan is installed at the machine room so as togenerate a blowing force such that external air can be introduced intothe vents.

However, since the conventional machine room is equipped therein withnot only the condenser but also the compressor, the fan, etc., themachine room occupies a prescribed space of a bottom portion of therefrigerator.

The space occupied by the machine room can not be utilized as a storagespace of the refrigerator. Accordingly, there has been proposed arefrigerator having a structure in which heat of the condenser issmoothly emitted, and the machine room is compacted.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide arefrigerator capable of sufficiently emitting heat of a machine room anda condenser, and implementing a compact configuration of the machineroom.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein,there is provided a refrigerator, comprising: a case having a coolingchamber; a machine room disposed on one side of the case, and configuredto accommodate a compressor therein; a condenser disposed on an outersurface of the case; and a heat emission unit configured to guideexternal air of the case for heat emission of the compressor and thecondenser.

In the refrigerator, the machine room may be disposed on a rear bottomportion of the case, and the condenser may be disposed on a rear surfaceof the case.

The heat emission unit may include a machine room cover configured tocover the machine room, and having a plurality of first vents; acondenser case configured to fix the condenser accommodated therein ontoa wall surface of the case, having a plurality of second vents, andcommunicated with one side of the machine room; a blowing fan configuredto generate a flow of air passing through the first and second vents;and a communication portion configured to communicate an inner side ofthe machine room with an inner side of the condenser case.

The blowing fan may be installed such that air introduced into one ofthe first vents and the second vents is discharged to the other.

The fan may be coupled to a rear surface of the machine room cover.

The fan may be installed at the communication portion configured tocommunicate an inner side of the machine room with an inner side of thecondenser case.

The blowing fan may be implemented as a cross flow fan.

The communication portion may include a communication duct configured tocommunicate an inner side of the machine room with a rear side of thecase, and a guide duct configured to communicate an inner side of thecommunication duct with an inner side of the condenser case.

The communication duct may be formed at a lower middle portion on a rearsurface of the case.

The machine room may have an opened surface toward a side surface of thecase, and the machine room cover may cover the opened surface. Thecommunication duct may be formed on a rear surface of the case so as tobe adjacent to the opened surface of the machine room.

Each of the second vents may be formed to have a size increased toward aside surface of the condenser case, from a connection passage of thecondenser case communicated with the guide duct.

The condenser may be implemented as refrigerant pipes for passing arefrigerant are curved a plurality of times on the same plane.

The communication portion may be provided so as to have a decreasedsectional area in a flow direction of air by the blowing fan.

The refrigerator of the present invention has the following advantages.

Firstly, the condenser is installed on an outer surface of the case notinside the machine room, and the heat emission unit for emitting heat ofthe machine room and the condenser is provided. Accordingly, the machineroom may have a decreased capacity, and heat of the condenser may beeffectively emitted.

Secondly, since the condenser is positioned on a rear surface of therefrigerator, a degraded appearance of the refrigerator may beprevented.

Thirdly, since the condenser is not installed in the machine room, aposition of the machine room may be variable to right and left portionsor a middle portion of a rear surface of the refrigerator.

Fourthly, the condenser case having the condenser accommodated thereinmay serve to guide a flow of air to each portion of the condenser, andmay prevent a degraded appearance due to exposure of the condenser.Owing to the condenser case, may be prevented damage of the condenserwhen the refrigerator is moved.

Fifthly, since an opened surface of the machine room is formed at a sidesurface of the case, a flow path of air passing through the machine roomand the condenser case may be simplified. Accordingly, a flow resistanceof air may be reduced, and power consumption of the blowing fan may bedecreased.

Sixthly, each of the second vents is formed to have a size increasedtoward a side surface of the condenser case, from the connection passageof the condenser case communicated with the guide duct. This mayminimize air leakage occurring through the second vents before airinside the condenser case is heat-exchanged with each part of thecondenser, in the case when air is introduced from the connectionpassage to the condenser case, or from the condenser case to theconnection passage.

Seventhly, the condenser may be implemented as refrigerant pipes forpassing a refrigerant are curved a plurality of times on the same plane.This may minimize each thickness of the condenser and the condensercase. Furthermore, since the condenser may be installed on an outersurface of the case, the refrigerator may have an increased installationspace.

Eighthly, the communication portion may be provided so as to have adecreased sectional area in a flow direction of air generated by theflowing fan. This causes air to flow with an increased speed, therebyenhancing a heat emission efficiency of the condenser or the compressor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heat emission unit installed on a rearsurface of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the heat emission unit of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line ‘I-I’ in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a flow of air through the heatemission unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a heat emission unit installed on a rearsurface of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a heat emission unit installed on a rearsurface of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line ‘III-III’ in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a condenser case and a blowing fanof a refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention will be explained in more detail.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heat emission unit installed on a rearsurface of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the heat emissionunit of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line ‘I-I’ inFIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a refrigerator according to the presentinvention comprises a case 40 having a cooling chamber (S); a machineroom 70 disposed on one side of the case 40, and configured toaccommodate a compressor 50 therein; a condenser 20 disposed on an outerside of the case 40; and a heat emission unit 100 configured to guideexternal air of the case 40 for heat emission of the compressor 50 andthe condenser 20.

Hereinafter, each component of the refrigerator according to the presentinvention will be explained in more detail.

The refrigerator according to the present invention comprises the case40 that forms appearance thereof, and having a cooling chamber (S) wherefood items are cooled to be stored.

The machine room 70 is formed below a rear surface of the case 40.

The compressor 50 is installed at the machine room 70.

The compressor 50, an evaporator (not shown), the condenser 20, and anexpander (not shown) constitute a refrigeration cycle.

The condenser 20 is disposed on a rear surface of the case 40, notinside the machine room 70.

The heat emission unit 100 is provided to guide external air of the case40 for heat emission of the compressor 50 and the condenser 20.

The heat emission unit 100 includes a machine room cover 101 configuredto cover the machine room 70, and having a plurality of first vents 102;a condenser case 114 configured to fix the condenser 20 accommodatedtherein onto a wall surface of the case 40, having a plurality of secondvents 114 b, and communicated with one side of the machine room 70; ablowing fan 103 configured to generate a flow of air passing through thefirst and second vents 102 and 114 b; and a communication portion 113configured to communicate an inner side of the machine room 70 with aninner side of the condenser case 114.

The communication portion 113 includes a communication duct 113 bconfigured to communicate an inner side of the machine room 70 with arear side of the case 40, and a guide duct 113 a configured tocommunicate an inner side of the communication duct 113 b with an innerside of the condenser case 114.

The communication duct 113 b is formed at a lower middle portion on arear surface of the case 40.

Air introduced into one of the first vents 102 and the second vents 114b is discharged to the other by the blowing fan 103. Accordingly, thecompressor 50 inside the machine room 70, and the condenser 20 insidethe condenser case 114 are cooled.

Preferably, a flow direction of air by the blowing fan 103 is determinedso that air having a high temperature by passing around the condenser 20can absorb heat from the compressor 50, by passing around the compressor50 having a relatively higher temperature than the condenser 20.

The blowing fan 103 is implemented as an axial flow fan, and isinstalled on a rear surface of the machine room cover 101.

In the present invention, the condenser 20 is installed inside thecondenser case 114. And, the condenser case 114 is installed on oneouter side of the case 40, not inside the machine room 70. This allowsthe cooling chamber (S) to have a more increased capacity compared towhen the condenser is installed at the machine room 70.

As the condenser case 114 is installed so as to contact with externalair, heat having conducted to the condenser case 114 from the condenser200 installed inside the condenser case 114 is emitted by air passingthrough an outer surface of the condenser case 114. Accordingly, thecondenser case 114 serves as a heat emission plate for emitting heatgenerated from the condenser 20 to outside of the refrigerator.

The condenser 20 is formed in an in-line shaped plate so as to beinserted into the condenser case 114, i.e., is formed as refrigerantpipes for passing a refrigerant are curved a plurality of times. Here,the refrigerant pipe is disposed on the same plane. An inlet 21 of thecondenser 20 is connected to an outlet 51 of the compressor 50 insidethe machine room 70. An outlet 22 of the condenser 20 is connected to ahot line inlet 25 installed on a front surface of the refrigerator so asto prevent dew condensation.

The condenser case 114 includes a case member 114 a having a prescribedspace to accommodate the condenser 20 therein, and having one openedside surface; a plurality of second vents 114 b penetratingly formed atthe case member 114 a, and configured to introduce air thereinto so asto cool the condenser 20; and a connection passage 113 aa disposed on alower end of the case member 114 a in communication with the guide duct113 a, so that the condenser case 114 and the machine room 70 can becommunicated with each other.

Preferably, each of the second vents 114 a is formed to have a sizeincreased toward a side surface of the condenser case 114, from theconnection passage 113 aa of the condenser case 114 communicated withthe guide duct 113 a.

Under this configuration, heat emission of the condenser 20 disposed inthe condenser case 114 is uniformly performed.

In the present invention, the machine room cover 101 may be installed atthe case 40 by a coupling member such as bolts. However, the machineroom cover 101 may be integrally formed with the case 40.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4, will be explained processes forinstalling the heat emission unit, and processes for emitting heat ofthe compressor and the condenser through the heat emission unit, in therefrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a flow of air through the heatemission unit of FIG. 1.

Firstly, will be explained processes for coupling the condenser 20accommodated in the condenser case 114 to the compressor 50 installed inthe machine room 70, and processes for fixing the condenser case 114 tothe case 40.

The condenser 20 disposed on a plane in the form of in-line is insertedinto the condenser case 114. Then, the condenser 20 is fixed to thecondenser case 114 by a coupling member (not shown) such as screws or ina welding manner so as to be prevented from moving in the condenser case114.

The inlet 21 of the condenser 20 is connected to the outlet 51 of thecompressor 50 installed inside the machine room 70. And, the outlet 22of the condenser 20 is connected to the hot line inlet 25 installed on afront surface of the refrigerator so as to prevent dew condensation.

Then, the opened one side surface of the condenser case 114 having thecondenser 20 therein is adhered, by using a coupling member 114 c, to awall surface of a rear surface of the case 40.

In correspondence to the communication duct 113 b positioned at theblower fan 103 inside the machine room 70, the guide duct 113 aintegrally formed on a lower end of the condenser case 114 is fixed tothe blowing fan 103, by the coupling member 114 c, as one opened sidethereof is adhered to the blowing fan 103.

Through the above processes, may be completed the processes for couplingthe condenser 20 accommodated in the condenser case 114 to thecompressor 50, and the processes for fixing the condenser case 114 to arear wall of the case 40.

The blowing fan 103 is coupled to a rear wall of the case 40 so as toface the compressor 50. And, the machine room cover 101 is installed ona rear wall of the case 40 by a coupling member, so as to cover theblowing fan 103.

Hereinafter, will be explained processes for emitting heat of thecompressor 50 and the condenser 20 by the heat emission unit 100provided on a rear wall of the case 40.

A refrigerant introduced into the refrigerator via an evaporator (notshown) in a low-temperature low-pressure gaseous state is compressedinto a high-temperature high-pressure gaseous state by the compressor50, thereby being used to heat the compressor 50. Therefore, thecompressor 50 requires to be cooled so as to prevent damage and loweringof a driving efficiency thereof.

The compressor 50 is cooled by a flow of air generated by the blowingfan 103 and discharged to or introduced into the first vents 102.

The refrigerant discharged through the compressor 50 is condensed into ahigh-temperature high-pressure liquid state via the condenser 20. Inthis case, a large amount of heat occurs around the condenser 20.Therefore, the condenser 20 requires to be cooled so as to preventdamage and lowering of a driving efficiency thereof.

The condenser 20 is cooled by a flow of air generated by the blowing fan103 and discharged to or introduced into the second vents 114 b.

The reason is because a flow of air by the blowing fan 103 also occursat the condenser 20 through the communication portion 113.

As the condenser case 114 having the condenser 20 accommodated thereinin a fixed state is installed so as to directly contact with externalair, heat having conducted from the condenser 200 is emitted out bynatural convection of air passing through an outer side of the condensercase 114.

Here, the condenser case 114 serves as a heat emission plate.

Here, a flow direction of air is determined such that air having servedto cool one of the compressor 50 and the condenser 20 can be supplied tothe other for cooling.

Since the compressor 50 has a relatively higher temperature than thecondenser 20, a flow direction of air is preferably set so that thecondenser 20 can be firstly cooled and then the compressor 50 can becooled.

In conclusion, since external air can absorb heat of the compressor 50and the condenser 20 to dissipate the heat by the heat emission unit,heat emission of the machine room 70 and the condenser 20 is smoothlyperformed. Also, the machine room 70 can have a compact configuration.

Next, will be explained state changes of a refrigerant circulating inthe refrigeration cycle constituted by the compressor 50 and thecondenser 20.

A refrigerant introduced into the compressor 50 through the evaporator(not shown), and pressurized into a high-temperature high-pressuregaseous state from a low-temperature low-pressure gaseous state flows tothe condenser 20 accommodated in the condenser case 114 fixed to thecase 40. Then, the refrigerant introduced into the condenser 20 has astate change to a room-temperature high-pressure liquid state through aheat emission process by the condenser 20.

Here, the refrigerant having complete a condensation process by thecondenser 20 is introduced into the hot line inlet 25 connected to theoutlet 22 of the condenser 20, and then flows on an entire part of a hotline (not shown) installed on a front surface of the refrigerator forprevention of dew condensation. Then, the refrigerant moves into anexpansion valve (not shown) through an inlet of the expansion valveconnected to an outlet of the hot line.

The refrigerant introduced into the expansion valve is depressurizedinto a state that can be easily evaporated, through a heat exchange bythe evaporator. The refrigerant is introduced into the evaporator, andthen is evaporated by an absorption reaction by which internal heat ofthe refrigerator is absorbed. The evaporated refrigerant is changed intoa low-temperature low-pressure gaseous state, thus to be introduced intothe compressor 50 again.

The refrigeration cycle is completed through the above processes, and isrepeated to discharge the generated cool air into the refrigerator.Accordingly, the refrigerator can have a lowered internal temperature.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.Explanations for the same components as those of the first embodimentwill be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a heat emission unit installed on a rearsurface of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line‘II-II’ in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the refrigerator according to a secondembodiment is different from the refrigerator according to a firstembodiment in the aspects of positions of a machine room cover 201 and acommunication portion 213.

The machine room 270 has an opened surface toward a side surface of thecase 40, and a machine room cover 201 covers the opened surface. Acommunication duct 213 b is formed on a rear surface of the case 40 soas to be adjacent to the opened surface of the machine room 270.

Each of a plurality of the second vents 114 b formed at the condensercase 114 has a size increased to both side surfaces of the condensercase 114, from the connection passage 113 aa of the condenser case 114communicated with the guide duct 213 a.

Under this configuration, air passing through the machine room 270 andthe condenser case 114 can smoothly flow. This allows the blowing fanfor generating a flow of air to have reduced power consumption.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.Explanations for the same components as those of the first embodimentwill be omitted.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a heat emission unit installed on a rearsurface of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line ‘III-III’ inFIG. 7.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the refrigerator according to a thirdembodiment is different from the refrigerator according to a firstembodiment in the aspect of a communication portion 313.

The communication portion 313 includes a communication duct 313 bconfigured to communicate an inner side of the machine room 70 with arear side of the case 40, and a guide duct 113 a configured tocommunicate an inner side of the communication duct 313 b and an innerside of the condenser case 114. The communication portion 313 isprovided such that the communication duct 313 b and the guide duct 113 acan have a decreased sectional area in a flow direction of air,respectively.

Under this configuration, as air flows with an increased speed, heat ofthe condenser or the compressor is more effectively emitted.Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 9.Explanations for the same components as those of the first embodimentwill be omitted.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a condenser case and a blowing fanof a refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 9, the refrigerator according to a fourth embodimentis different from the refrigerator according to a first embodiment inthe aspects of an installation position and a type of a blowing fan 403.

Here, the blowing fan 403 is implemented as a cross flow fan, and isinstalled at one side of the guide duct 113 a.

As the blowing fan 403 is installed at a position where a flow directionof air frequently changes, a cooling efficiency by the compressor 50 andthe condenser 20 can be more enhanced.

It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention cover modifications and variationsof this invention provided they come within the scope of the appendedclaims and their equivalents.

1. A refrigerator, comprising: a case having a cooling chamber; amachine room disposed on one side of the case, and configured toaccommodate a compressor therein; a condenser disposed on an outersurface of the case; and a heat emission unit configured to guideexternal air of the case for heat emission of the compressor and thecondenser.
 2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the machine room isdisposed on a rear bottom portion of the case, and the condenser isdisposed on a rear surface of the case.
 3. The refrigerator of claim 2,wherein the heat emission unit comprises: a machine room coverconfigured to cover the machine room, and having a plurality of firstvents; a condenser case configured to fix the condenser accommodatedtherein onto a wall surface of the case, having a plurality of secondvents, and communicated with one side of the machine room; a blowing fanconfigured to generate a flow of air passing through the first andsecond vents; and a communication portion configured to communicate aninner side of the machine room with an inner side of the condenser case.4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the blowing fan is installedsuch that air introduced into one of the first vents and the secondvents is discharged to the other.
 5. The refrigerator of claim 4,wherein the fan is coupled to a rear surface of the machine room cover.6. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the fan is installed at an innerside of the communication portion.
 7. The refrigerator of claim 3,wherein the blowing fan is implemented as a cross flow fan.
 8. Therefrigerator of claim 3, wherein the communication portion comprises: acommunication duct configured to communicate an inner side of themachine room with a rear side of the case; and a guide duct configuredto communicate an inner side of the communication duct with an innerside of the condenser case.
 9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein thecommunication duct is formed in a lower middle portion on a rear surfaceof the case.
 10. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the machine roomhas an opened surface toward a side surface of the case, and the machineroom cover covers the opened surface.
 11. The refrigerator of claim 10,wherein the communication duct is formed on a rear surface of the caseso as to be adjacent to the opened surface of the machine room.
 12. Therefrigerator of claim 9, wherein each of the second vents is formed tohave a size increased toward a side surface of the condenser case, froma connection passage of the condenser case communicated with the guideduct.
 13. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the condenser isimplemented as refrigerant pipes for passing a refrigerant are curved aplurality of times on the same plane.
 14. The refrigerator of claim 6,wherein the communication portion is provided so as to have a decreasedsectional area in a flow direction of air by the blowing fan.
 15. Therefrigerator of claim 4, wherein the blowing fan is implemented as across flow fan.
 16. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the blowing fanis implemented as a cross flow fan.
 17. The refrigerator of claim 6,wherein the blowing fan is implemented as a cross flow fan.
 18. Therefrigerator of claim 11, wherein each of the second vents is formed tohave a size increased toward a side surface of the condenser case, froma connection passage of the condenser case communicated with the guideduct.